SUSTAINABLE BEEKEEPING
Republic of Congo – Sangha and Likouala regions
November 2015 – october 2017
Apiflordev and Congolaise Industrielle des Bois
22 motivated Pygmies
Heart of the project
A dangerous and low-paying practice
In the North of the Republic of Congo, located in the heart of a vast forest area, many Pygmy tribes leave to settle in the urban areas, partly driven away by deforestation.
Thanks to wild swarms, honey harvest is an income generating activity. However, current harvesting methods are not sustainable: harvesting is done by smoking or burning swarms sometimes even by cutting down the tree that bears the swarm. Therefore, produced honey is of low quality, poorly preserved and thus sold cheap. Moreover, this form of production is very aggressive because many bees are killed in the process. In addition, the amount of honey harvested per hive is low.
Equipment
Manufacture of beekeeping equipments by craftsmen (bee-smokers, uncapping knife, boots and gloves…) and construction of school hives and of a building to pack honey.
Training
Training, follow-up and support in the establishment of their hives as well as improving production practices, harvesting, packaging and marketing.
Commercialization
Commercialization on local distribution networks through an initiation on the honey sector and by creating a structure responsible for marketing and by informing the population through the existing community radio stations.
Expected benefits
A 50% increase in revenues by 2017
A decrease in the destruction of swarms
A 25% increase in the consumption and use of honey
